Sranan Tongo ("Surinamean tongue"), also Sranang Tongo, Sranantongo, Sranan, or taki-taki, is a creole language spoken as a native language by 100,000 people in Suriname.

Since this language is shared between the English-, Dutch-, Javanese- and Hindustani-speaking communities, many Surinamese speak it as a second language.

Origins

The Sranan Tongo words for 'to know' and 'small children' are sabi and pikin which, according to the monogenetic theory of pidgin formation (contested by many if not most linguists in this area of research), identifies it as a derivation of Lingua franca, also known as Sabir.

Sranan Tongo's lexicon is a fusion of Dutch, English, Portuguese and

Features

Sranan Tongo's grammar matches traditional creole patterns: it has no inflections or declensions, a simple vocabulary (in the thousands of words), and is relatively easy to learn.

Further reading

• Jan Voorhoeve and Ursy M. Lichtveld: Creole Drum. An Anthology of Creole Literature in Suriname. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1975.

• C.F.A. Bruijning and J. Voorhoeve (editors): Encyclopedie van Suriname. Amsterdam and Brussel: Uitgeverij Elsevier, 1977, pp. 573-574.

• Eithne B. Carlin and Jacques Arends (editors): Atlas of the Languages of Suriname. Leiden: KITLV Press, 2002.

• Michael Ietswaart and Vinije Haabo: Sranantongo. Surinaams voor reizigers en thuisblijvers. Amsterdam: Mets & Schilt, 2002.

External link

Sranan tongo Sranan Tongo Sranang Tongo Sranan Surinaams Sranantongo